At 5:42 a.m., the parking lot outside the factory in northern Ohio is already half full. Pickup trucks idle in the cold. Inside, the smell of burnt coffee mixes with the blue glow of smartphone screens.
Humanity
Understanding the human, cultural and ethical dimensions of progress.
The screens are already awake when the sun rises over central Iowa. Outside, the land lies still. A thin layer of mist floats above the fields where five generations of corn and soy once learned the rhythm of seasons by heart. Inside the farmhouse kitchen, there is no engine noise, no smell of diesel, no boots by the door.
While the world marvels at data centers and NVIDIA chips consuming electricity equivalent to small cities, a two-year-old sits on the floor of an ordinary daycare. Using no more than a dim household bulb’s worth of energy—20 watts—this child performs feats Silicon Valley can only dream of: learning a language, understanding sarcasm, recognizing a banana, whether drawn, plastic or half-eaten.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has increasingly captured the attention of both media and science. Yet experts like Chiara Gallese warn that using AI does not automatically lead to understanding. Her critique of ChatGPT’s use on the Riemann Hypothesis is striking: AI can sound fluent, but it cannot guarantee deep insight. The illusion of knowledge, she argues, may be the greatest risk of generative AI.
We live in a time where technological innovation never pauses. Artificial Intelligence is growing exponentially; algorithms predict our behavior and smart systems make decisions once reserved for humans. Yet… life feels faster but poorer. We have more resources than ever, yet less time, less rest and less meaning. Society seems increasingly individualistic; hidden poverty is on the rise—not only financially but socially and emotionally.
A toddler sees a giraffe once. The next day, walking through a museum, the same child looks at a skeleton and immediately recognizes the animal again. No manual. No training cycle. No second explanation required.
